HOUSTON, Texas – A few miscues and a tough night offensively led to Stanford's 4-0 defeat to Rice at Reckling Park on Friday night.
One night after posting 16 runs and 17 hits, the Cardinal was held to just three hits. It was just the second loss for Stanford (10-4) since Feb. 18, and snapped a four-game winning streak.
Rice (5-10) benefited from a Stanford miscue in the second. A shallow pop fly dropped between two Cardinal and turned into a double. A two-out single gave the Owls a 1-0 lead.
Another miscue hurt the Cardinal in the bottom of the third when the leadoff man reached on an error, and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0.
An inning later, Rice's Darryn Sheppard hit a solo home run for a three-run lead.
In the sixth, Stanford got two on, and junior Quinn Brodey poked one deep to left. It came just a few feet from tying the game before Rice right fielder Charlie Warren hauled it in with his back against the wall.
In the home half, another leadoff home run made it 4-0, and ended the night for southpaw starter Andrew Summerville. Senior reliever Tyler Thorne took over and provided three scoreless innings.
NUMBERS…
Summerville went 5.0 innings and struck out three. Only three of his four runs allowed were earned. Thorne allowed just two hits and has given up just one run in six appearances and 9.1 innings this year. Matt Winaker, Duke Kinamon and Nico Hoerner had Stanford's three hits. Winaker was 1-for-2 with a double and a walk.
AND NOTABLES
Stanford remains at 10-1 this year when scoring at least one run ... Winaker has drawn seven walks in the last five games … Head Coach Mark Marquess remains five wins away from becoming the fourth head coach in Division I history with 1,600 career wins.
WHAT'S AHEAD
Stanford and Rice continue the series with a noon PT start on Saturday. Freshman Erik Miller (1-0, 2.50 ERA) will pitch for the Cardinal. The four-game set concludes on Sunday at 11 a.m. PT. Stanford's next home series is the start of Pac-12 play as defending conference champion Utah comes to Sunken Diamond, March 24-26. That series features seat cushion giveaway, ice cream social and autograph day.
SOCIAL SCENE
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